TV Gets Real: The 1970s
Up until the 1970s, much of television portrayed idealized families and rural fantasies, offered pure escapism, and reenforced stereotypes but, in the '70s, TV faced reality. Which of these series that embraced realism do you think was the most powerful and important?
After voting, discuss here.
Vote in polls about other TV eras: the 90s here and the 1940s-50s here.
After voting, discuss here.
Vote in polls about other TV eras: the 90s here and the 1940s-50s here.
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- StarsFred RogersBetty AberlinDavid NewellFred Rogers explores various topics for young viewers through presentations and music, both in his world and in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.Treated children as real, thinking and feeling human beings; talked to kids about difficult issues like emotional pain, divorce, and disabilities; looked at details behind a range of real jobs, places, and subjects from how bakeries run to animal behavior; validated children and their experiences and emotions.
- CreatorGraham ChapmanEric IdleTerry JonesStarsGraham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamThe original surreal sketch comedy showcase for the Monty Python troupe.Contained sexual content and humor; addressed taboos.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksAllan BurnsStarsMary Tyler MooreEdward AsnerGavin MacLeodThe lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.Portrayed working women, woman as hero, and employees' challenging management; addressed gender-based pay gap and workplace as family.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsCarroll O'ConnorJean StapletonRob ReinerA working class man constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.One of the first uses of irony on TV; tackled racism, bigotry, sexism, and traditional gender roles; first toilet flush sound ever on television. The series was also the first sitcom to introduce an openly gay character.
- CreatorLarry GelbartStarsAlan AldaWayne RogersLoretta SwitThe staff of an Army hospital in the Korean War find that laughter is the best way to deal with their situation.Addressed war; used a cinematic approach (TV flmed like a movie); endorsed anti-authoritarianism; portrayed human consequences of war (death, phyisical injury and pain, emotional harm); some graphic consequences of violence.
- StarsCarol BurnettVicki LawrenceThe Ernie Flatt DancersTelevision show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe.A woman as the anchor; women as comedians; use of irony.
- CreatorDon HewittStarsAndrew RooneyLesley StahlSteve KroftThe classic long-running prime time TV investigative news magazine.Much more time given to topics; deeper exploration of issues and events; profiled and interviewed people not approached before, especially with such candor: for example, Mike Wallace asked Ayatollah Khomeini if those who called him a lunatic were correct.
- CreatorJoan Ganz CooneyLloyd Morrisett Jr.StarsJim HensonFrank OzCaroll SpinneyOn a special inner city street, the inhabitants, human and muppet, teach preschool subjects with comedy, cartoons, games, and songs.Gave attention to culteral literacy; focused not just on academic education but also on education concerning interacting with others and relationships; set in urban neighborhood.
- CreatorDavid DavisLorenzo MusicStarsBob NewhartSuzanne PleshetteBill DailyThe professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.Addressed psychology; portrayed equal marriage and non-traditional gender roles and family structure.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsBea ArthurBill MacyConrad Bain"All In The Family" spin-off centered around Edith's cousin, Maude Findlay, a liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, New York.Woman as lead and protagonist; liberal, independent woman; challenges to gender roles; dealt with serious, controversial issues such as abortion and alcolohism.
- DirectorLamont JohnsonStarsHal HolbrookMartin SheenJoe Don BakerTeenager Nick Salter visits his divorced father Doug and meets Dad's new friend Gary McLain. But Doug enjoys Gary's company more than the company of women. Nick must then learn to deal with Doug's homosexuality.Generally considered to be the first sympathetic portrayal of gay men on TV. The main characters were played by two of the leading actors of the time.
- StarsPatricia LoudBill LoudLance LoudFollows the real lives of the Loud family, a motley group of suburbanites.The groundbreaking documentary series was the first "reality" show in the United States; portrayed the complexities of real families, including divorce.
- CreatorMike EvansNorman LearEric MonteStarsJa'net DuBoisRalph CarterBernNadette StanisA poor family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.Black lead characters; positive portrayals of African-Americans; black family with father present; addressed child abuse and adoption by a single parent.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksAllan BurnsDavid DavisStarsValerie HarperJulie KavnerLorenzo MusicIn this spin-off of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Rhoda Morgenstern leaves best pal Mary Richards and her other friends in Minneapolis, Minn., to try her luck in Manhattan.Female sensitivity; divorce; female independence.
- CreatorNorman LearDon NichollMichael RossStarsIsabel SanfordSherman HemsleyRoxie RokerA nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.Portrayed African-Americans with money, strong women, and multi-racial marriage; examined relationships between employers and domestic staff.
- CreatorLorne MichaelsStarsThe Saturday Night Live BandDon PardoDarrell HammondA famous guest host stars in parodies and sketches created by the cast of this witty show.Used grit, sarcasm, and irony; addressed "adult" issues and political issues; had some conventionally unattractive stars; embraced counter culture; explored racism and sexism, as well as other social justice issues; used over the top humor.
- DirectorMarty CallnerStarsRobert KleinPhil GaldstonLaunched HBO; the beginning of cable TV, which, because it did not depend on advertising funds, had more programming freedom, including airing more controversial and diverse material.
- StarsPeter StraussNick NolteSusan BlakelyAn examination of the trials and tribulations of the Jordache family, from the period following World War II to the late 1960s."Novel" TV: first mini-series, a format that was more conducive to examining themes with more depth.
- StarsLeVar BurtonRobert ReedJohn AmosA dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.Actors who had portrayed favorite TV fathers played slave holders and villians; embraced black pride and history; looked at American history with a critical eye; one of the first mini-series.
- StarsJoseph BottomsTovah FeldshuhRosemary HarrisThe saga of a Jewish family's struggle to survive the horror of Nazi Germany's systematic marginalization and extermination of their community.Controversial in its coverage of the Holocaust, which was considered to be a taboo subject. Many thought that to illustrate the Holocaust on TV was disrespectful to survivors and the memory of victims.